Don Lemon Says He Has No Regrets After CNN Firing: “I Am a Survivor”
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Days after Don Lemon revealed he had been fired from CNN, the former CNN This Morning co-anchor took to the red carpet at the Time 100 gala in New York Wednesday night to say that while the departure was a surprise, it’s behind him now.
When arriving at the all-star media event (where CNN CEO Chris Licht was also in attendance), covered by The Hollywood Reporter, Lemon fielded questions from several reporters asking how the former anchor was doing after the news.
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Lemon stopped to speak with only a few outlets, sharing he was going to take the summer to rest up before figuring out what’s next. When asked if he would do anything differently, he told Extra, “I live my life with no regrets and whatever I did, I did, I owned,” adding, “I don’t look back and don’t want to change things in the past.… Onward.”
The former Don Lemon Tonight host then said he would be spending the summer on the beach and boat with his family and relaxing. “I’m fortunate enough to be in a position where I can do that,” he said. “I have time. I don’t have to rush to another job, even if I want another job.”
Nonetheless, Lemon said he remains excited for the next chapter and is trying to remain positive.
“I think life is short, and whatever life hands you, you have to bob and weave and do it,” he said. “I didn’t think I would be at work one evening and get a phone call that my sister had died, but I had to deal with that. I didn’t think that my dad would die young of diabetes.… So there are lots of things that come your way that are unexpected, but I’m a survivor. I come from strong, sturdy stock in Louisiana and a lot of people are rooting for me and who love me.”
Lemon announced on Twitter on Monday that his agent had informed him that he had been terminated by CNN. “I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly,” he wrote, explaining that he was never given any indication that he wouldn’t be able to continue working at the network. He added, “It is clear that there are some larger issues at play.”
CNN PR in a subsequent statement said that Lemon’s statement about the decision was “inaccurate,” adding the anchor “was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
In a memo to CNN staff, CNN CEO Chris Licht confirmed that Lemon and the channel had “parted ways,” writing: “Don will forever be a part of the CNN family and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”
Lemon’s abrupt departure means another shuffling of CNN’s morning-show lineup. There’s no word yet on who, if anyone, will join anchors Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow on CNN This Morning.
On Tuesday’s show, Collins and Harlow echoed the statement in Licht’s memo. “Don was a big part of this show over the last six months. He was one of the first anchors on CNN to have me on his show,” Collins said. “That’s something I’ll obviously never forget. I agree with Chris. We wish him the best.”
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